Decker smiled. "Ramona held ten percent of the Lu Group's shares, and she gave it to me. Your so-called uncle also handed his shares over to me. So I have twenty-five percent of the Lu Group's shares now." He then glanced at Carlos and asked, "With the twenty-five percent, do you think I could take over the company now?"
Carlos thought about it for a moment and then replied, "I can buy twenty percent of the shares for you.
With forty-five percent of Lu Group's shares, you would be in a much better position."
Debbie's eyes went as wide as saucers when she heard what Decker said. "When did you contact them? Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were busy dealing with that old bastard James. I didn't want to distract you." Decker furrowed his brows as if something was bothering him, and complained, "Ramona is so irritating. She doesn't go to work but spends all of her time looking for me. It really annoys me so much."
Debbie frowned and scolded him, "Stop calling her Ramona. She's also a victim of the Lu family. Some day, you might want to call her 'Mom.'"
Decker glanced at her and asked casually, "So, you've forgiven her?"
Debbie sighed. "I want to."
"Bah! Women are soft. Learn from me. I'll never forgive her!" Decker retorted.
Carlos cut in, "If you aren't going to forgive her and you hate her so much, then why did you take her shares? A dog with a full mouth does not bark. You're bound to call her 'Mom' eventually."
Decker had already had enough of Carlos' smart remarks and was seething inside. He was on the verge of snapping. 'Carlos, will you just shut up?' he wanted to say, but he lost his nerve. He had already made a sharp retort at Carlos and didn't dare do it again. So he changed the subject. "Where do you plan on getting that twenty percent of the Lu Group's shares?"
"Don't worry. That'll be a piece of cake. But I won't just hand it to you on a silver platter. You have to promise me something," Carlos said.
Debbie smiled inside when she heard what Carlos had said. After all, he was a businessman, and people in business always pursue profits.
At this point, Decker had become desperate for a smoke, but since Debbie was with them, he gave up on the idea. "You want me to help you chase Debbie, don't you?"
Carlos gave him a sidelong glance. "I can handle my wife. I don't need your help." What he meant by that was Debbie was going to be his wife again sooner or later. It was just a question of time.
Decker couldn't stand his tone. All of a sudden, a string of adjectives popped into his head that perfectly described Carlos. 'Why, you conceited, arrogant, imperious, overbearing son of a...' "Fine! Name your term."
The corners of Carlos' mouth twisted into a cunning smile. "I'll transfer the twenty percent of the shares into my wife's name. If Debbie wants Curtis' shares, you'll have to give them up too. So my term is after you take over the Lu Group you'll have to make my wife its biggest shareholder."
Debbie and Decker looked at each other in shock and were taken aback by what Carlos had suggested.
Decker protested, "Once you two get remarried, what's Debbie's is yours. That means the Lu Group will be yours too. Carlos Huo, you're very clever."
Carlos sneered, "Do you really think that I give a damn about the Lu Group?" Many of the mere branches of the ZL Group were bigger than the Lu Group.
Decker thought for a moment and realized he had no choice. "Fine! But you'll have to promise me something too."
"No," Carlos rebuffed before even hearing him out.
Decker was furious and couldn't stand it any longer. He turned to Debbie and gave her an ultimatum. "You'll have to choose. Me or this stranger?"
'Stranger?'
Debbie blinked at him in disbelief, though she decided to have some fun by annoying Carlos. "Of course I'll choose you, my brother."
Decker wore a satisfied smile and looked at the now sullen Carlos. "Mr. Huo, will you agree to my term now or not?" he asked with a sinister smile. His words were full of menace. It was as if he was threatening Carlos that he would marry Debbie off to another man if he dared refuse him.
The two men regarded each other, exchanging cold glares. Then Carlos slowly turned to Debbie and asked, "Honey, what do you say?"
Debbie was planning on toying with Carlos, but when he asked for her opinion, she suddenly felt guilty and couldn't go against him. She giggled and then leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Don't be hard on him. Decker is our brother."
'Our brother...' Carlos' mood had instantly changed, and the coldness lifted from his features. "Sure!" he said to Decker in a cheerful tone.
Decker nodded and began, "Lend me some of your most talented men. Once I take over the Lu Group, I'll return them."
Even though Decker was a big shot in Y City now, taking over a group was no small task and was complicated. He knew that he couldn't do it alone. Carlos could do it, but even he might find it difficult.
A skilled employee could contribute substantially to an enterprise. Now Decker was asking for more than one skilled employee. Carlos had to think about it. "You're greedy," Carlos replied in a flat tone.
Decker responded flatteringly, "Anything for my sister." The Lu Group meant the world to Elroy. He had spent his whole life building it up and running the company. If it became Debbie's, he would be devastated, and it would be a deadly blow to him. Decker relished the idea.
Debbie missed the point and was confused. 'For me? Why?'
Carlos looked at Debbie and answered decisively, "Deal. I'll have the twenty percent of the Lu Group's shares and the personnel delivered to you together. Remember, I'm only doing this because you're my wife's brother."
Decker knew that if it weren't for Debbie, he would only be a stranger to Carlos. He sighed and looked at Debbie. "Thank you, Sister."
They talked for a long while after they had reached the agreement, and then Decker retired to the guest room to have a nap.
Carlos watched as Decker got up and walked into the room. "Don't let him in next time," he said sullenly.
"Why?"
"He makes himself too comfortable here. I don't like it." Even though it was Carlos who had bought the apartment for Debbie, he didn't have the freedom to come and go as Decker did. Debbie often kicked Carlos out of the apartment in the middle of the night, whereas Decker acted as if it was his home every time that he stayed here. Carlos was unhappy about his cockiness.
Debbie stroked his hair and comforted him, "My brother and I are family."
He took her into his arms and retorted, "You're my wife. I'm your family."
Debbie argued, "Not yet."
That evening, Ramona found out that Decker was staying at Debbie's place, so she brought many ingredients over to cook some dishes for the siblings.
Debbie had gone to the company with Carlos, so Decker was in the apartment alone. When he heard a knock at the door, he trudged bleary-eyed to open it, and Ramona walked in with her arms full of groceries. By the time Decker's head had cleared, Ramona was already in the kitchen washing vegetable. He felt awkward to get her out of there.
Ramona had hung her overcoat on the rack. Wearing an azure sweater and wide-leg pants, she pulled an apron on to protect her clothes. At this moment, Ramona was no celebrity but a normal loving mother who wanted to cook dinner for her kids.